Contents

Background

U-151 was originally one of seven
Deutschland class U-boats designed to carry cargo between the United States and Germany in 1916. Five of the submarine freighters were converted into long-range cruiser U-boats (U-kreuzers) equipped with two
15 cm (5.9 in) SK L/45deck guns, including U-151 which was originally to have been named Oldenburg. The
Type U 151 class were the largest U-boats of World War I.

On 2 June 1918, known to some historians as "Black Sunday", U-151 sank six American ships and damaged two others off the coast of
New Jersey in the space of a few hours. The next day the
tankerHerbert L. Pratt struck a mine previously laid by U-151 in the area but was later salvaged.[5] Thirteen people died in the seven sinkings, their deaths caused by a capsized
lifeboat from
SS Carolina.[6]

On 28 June 1918, U-151 captured the SS Dictator and made its crew prisoners of war. Among those taken were four men from Newfoundland: Thomas Fiander, Edgar Banfield, Charles Blagdon, and Thomas Bowdridge.

U-151 returned to Kiel on 20 July 1918 after a 94-day cruise in which she had covered a distance of 10,915 nmi (20,215 km; 12,561 mi). Her commander reported that she had sunk 23 ships totalling 61,000 tons and had laid mines responsible for the sinking of another four vessels.[10]